My Christmas gift to me.

[Adam Helmer]

Last night, I saw an ad in our weekly "Penny Saver" newspaper listing a M1898 .30/40 Krag Rifle made in 1898. I made the call and discovered another guy expressed interest in the rifle, but never came buy to buy it. At 0900 today, I closed the deal.

I now own the finest Krag Rifle I ever saw or handled in all my prior years; the bore and exterior are NRA Excellent+. I test fired the rifle today at my backyard bench with factory loads and handloads and the gun shoots better than I can hold.

My son-in-law has a Very Good Krag bayonet that he will give to me tomorrow. We have a local military re-enactment group that does Spanish-American War, WWI, and WWII events. I now have proper kit for the earlier era in our history. It has been a very good Christmas.

Happy New Year to all. Let us hope 2009 is better than 2008.

Adam

[jplonghunter]

Adam

Like they say,it is better to give than to receive. Really better when you can give and receive yourself

jplonghunter

[Adam Helmer]

jplonghunter,

Right you are. I was discussing gun collecting with a friend recently and he asked how I would appraise certain gun collections. The "Blue Book" does give ranges of gun values, but omits the elements of chance finding certain desirable items and the time spent looking at specimens and passing by overrated condition arms.

I never pass by a fine (NRA Excellent+) military arm and haggle. Sometines I get the price down and sometimes not. I also buy Good, or less condition, arms because every serious collector needs a few "Parts" guns. Gil can attest to the rise in parts prices for stocks, firing pins, extractors, etc. Christmas is a fine time to justify another arm for the collection.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

When you get the chance at a decent firearm at a great price, it is best to snatch it up. All the best...
Gil